The Delta-Alaska mileage plan tie-in is over. Here's what that means for frequent-flying Alaskans.

Lately, lots of pieces have moved around on that big airline chessboard in the sky. Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America. Norwegian Airlines was granted permission to operate more low-cost flights across the Atlantic. And, in a weird twist, Pakistan International Airlines employees sacrificed a goat on the tarmac in Islamabad. For good luck.

But in a knight-takes-bishop move, Alaska Airlines and Delta jointly announced the end of their code-share and mileage plan tie-in. This was not unexpected, as the two airlines are engaged in the battle for Seattle. For example, Delta is the "official" airline of the Seattle Seahawks, but 'Hawks QB Russell Wilson is Alaska's "Chief Football Officer" and appears in ads for the carrier. Both airlines are going overboard with more flights to more destinations, resulting in lower fares and better service.

So, while the business is succeeding, the airlines' "marriage" suffered. In fairness, both airlines have been "seeing other partners" in the process. Delta has its own alliance, "SkyTeam," with Air France, KLM and Alitalia, among others. Alaska Air also has a handful of other partners, including American Air, Icelandair, British, Qantas, LATAM (formerly known as "LAN Chile"), Emirates, Cathay Pacific and others.

There's no question that frequent travelers benefit from Alaska's partnership with other airlines. Delta had the most-rewarding partner airline package, especially as a result of its flights to five Alaska cities and its Seattle hub. But, of course, it was those special qualities that set Delta up more as a competitor than a "partner." And so … splitsville.

On April 30, 2017, the divorce will be final. Oh, Delta still will operate their year-round flights from Fairbanks and Anchorage to Seattle. And in late May, the carrier will resume Seattle flights to Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. These flights to Seattle will connect with Delta's nonstop flights from Seattle to Europe and Asia, as well as to its ever-expanding domestic flight schedule from Sea-Tac. But travelers won't reap any Alaska Airlines miles on the flights.

Ever since the Alaska-Delta relationship has been on ice, American Airlines has moved in as the preferred "global network carrier" for Alaska Airlines. American's schedule matches up with Alaska's service in Chicago and Los Angeles. For most of 2016, travelers on American received Mileage Plan credit for 100 percent of the miles they flew. But on Aug. 1, American, like Delta and United, devalued its "AAdvantage" mileage scheme from miles flown to dollars spent. Accordingly, American's low cost tickets will yield as little as 25 percent of actual miles flown on Alaska Air.

Elite-level Alaska Air travelers (MVP, Gold and 75K) receive bonus miles of 50 percent to 125 percent on partner airlines. So, if you have a cheap ticket on American to travel 5,000 miles, you will receive 1,250 miles' credit. Your MVP bonus is based on that amount, not actual miles flown.

There are other nonmileage benefits for elite-level travelers on American Air, including free checked bags, better seats and access to expedited security.

Alaska has lounge access arrangements with other "preferred" mileage partners, Icelandair and British Airways. With Icelandair, MVP Gold travelers have access to the elegant "Saga" lounge at the airline's hub in Reykjavik. With British Airways, MVP Gold travelers can use the "Galleries Lounge" in Terminal 5 at Heathrow.

One of Alaska's advantages is its strong network of partner airlines. If you're flying first, business or full-fare coach, you'll earn plenty of miles. In addition to actual miles flown, there are generous "class of service" bonuses of up to 100 percent. In fact, most partner airline benefits are skewed to reward travelers in the front of the bus (in first or business class) or to the top tiers of frequent flyers (MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K).

Travelers searching for the cheapest tickets will lose out on full mileage credit. This is how Alaska Airlines' miles-flown plan is able to integrate with other carriers, which award perks based on dollars spent. On Icelandair, British, Air France, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and others, the least-expensive tickets yield just 25 percent of miles flown. With Aeromexico, LATAM or Korean it's 50 percent. Qantas offers a full 100 percent of actual miles flown. The lower earning levels apply both to banking your miles and to earning "elite qualifying miles" to help you reach MVP status.

Travelers who want the most rewards for their travel dollars should stick to flying on Alaska's very own aircraft. For example, when traveling to the South, I have the chance to fly on American or Delta (for now) to Montgomery, Alabama. That means a connection in Seattle and another in Dallas or Atlanta. Instead, I flew to New Orleans on Alaska's nonstop flight from Seattle. From there, I rent a car and drive. In return, I receive full credit for the miles flown. Plus, I can use my companion fare certificate from my Alaska Air Visa card to bring my wife along. Okay, she's actually bringing me along, since it's her family that lives well below the Mason-Dixon line. Then, there's the two free checked bags (with Club 49) and the chance for an upgrade, since both Christy and I are MVP travelers.

Alaska Air's Mileage Plan stands alone as the most generous "miles-flown" frequent flyer plan. All the rest of the loyalty plans from United, Delta and American have been devalued by reverting to a dollars-spent formula. That means the biggest airlines are trying to purge their frequent-flyer rolls of the "cheap elites" who score the perks and upgrades by buying cheap long-haul tickets.

One of the best mileage deals on Alaska Air is for in-state travel. Alaska is starting a mileage-based award scheme. For trips of 700 miles or less (Anchorage to Juneau, Bethel, Kodiak, Cordova, Nome or Kotzebue), it will cost just 5,000 miles each way.

For travelers flying between Anchorage and Seattle, Portland or San Francisco, the mileage threshold will be reduced to 20,000 (down from 25,000 miles). All destinations within 2,100 miles of Anchorage fall into the new, lower category. That includes Spokane, Boise and other destinations in Washington, Oregon and northern California.

Also, if you're flying on a mileage ticket, you now are eligible for an upgrade if you're an elite-level flyer.

Travelers sometimes feel like pawns in the big game of airline chess. Hawaiian used to be a mileage partner of Alaska — but not anymore. Icelandair was in, then out and now they're back again. Then there's the addition of Virgin America to the Alaska Air family. There will be new routes, new rules, new rewards and new deals as we roll in to 2017. Stay tuned for the next move.

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. You can follow him on Twitter @alaskatravelGRM and alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.